The world's first underground railway was opened in London in 1863. It was built as a way to reduce street congestion. The Metropolitan Railway, which was the first underground railway, used gas-lit wooden carriages hauled by steam locomotives. It worked with the District Railway to serve London's commuters. The concept of an underground railway linking the City of London with railway stations was first proposed in the 1830s. The idea was promoted by Charles Pearson, Solicitor to the City of London, who contributed to the creation of the City Terminus Company to build such a railway.
The construction of the London Underground took several years. The Metropolitan Railway, which was the first line, took three years to build. It opened in 1863 and ran from Paddington to Farringdon Street. The line was a success from its opening, carrying 9.5 million passengers in the first year of its existence. In 1866, the City of London and Southwark Subway Company began work on the "tube" line, which used a tunneling shield developed by J.H. Greathead. The tunnels were driven at a depth sufficient to avoid interference with building foundations or public utility works. The construction of the Tube took several years, with the first section opening in 1890. By 1907, the underground railway had been extended to the suburbs, and the network had become an essential part of London's transportation system.
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